1. Geography

2. History

3. Demographics

4. Transport

5. Sports

6. Administration
    Heads of Administration 

7. Education
    Higher Secondary schools  Secondary schools  Colleges  Mission 

8. Festivals and culture
    Ratha-Yatra  Jagaddhatri Puja  Durga Puja  Kali Puja  Food 

9. References

10. Notes

11. External links

Guptipara is a village in Balagarh,^[1] a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Sadar subdivision of the Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

Guptipara sits beside the Hooghly River that divides Guptipara into two parts (Panchayat I and II are situated in the western part and Panchayat III is situated on the eastern side). Two oxbow lakes, Dekol and Dhama, are situated at the northern and southern end of Guptipara, respectively. Before the 15th century, many parts of Guptipara sank and were covered by lakes and rivers. {{refn|group=note|Reverend Long wrote in ‘Calcutta Review’ 1846, ‘The River (the Bhagirathi) formerly flowed behind Kalna where old Kalna now is, and it passed by Pyagachi, the remains of deep and large lakes.'}}^[2] The Dekol was connected with the Hooghly by the Muri Ganga channel, which can no longer be traced. During floods, water from the river enters through the Muri Ganga Path before it reunites with Dekol. An increase in population and farming, floods, the STKK road and railway lines define the landscape.The village is part of the Hooghly-Burdwan Rice belt.

History

Guptipara is the home of Bengal's first Barowari ({{lang-en|publicly organized}}) Durga Puja which introduced Sri Bindhabasini Jagaddhatri Puja (Worshipping Devi Durga introduced by Lord Rama), with a club named Bindhyabasini. It is now known as Bindhyabasini Mata. In the 1760s, a group of men were stopped from taking part in the household Durga Puja of the ruling Sen family. In retaliation, twelve of these men formed a committee and organised a modern club culture called "Barowari Puja." (Baro means twelve and yaar means friend.)^[3][4] Opinions vary about the year of commencement of the Barowari puja. Some believe it to be 1760 while others claim it to be 1790.^[5][6]

Guptipara was one of the main places in ancient India where the "Sanskrit Toles" and Pandith lived. "Pathmahal," "Raghu Nath" Mandir, and Mela were situated throughout Guptipara in large numbers. Many old manuscripts and books are preserved in the "Sisir Bani Mandir Pathagar", the government library established by the Sen family.

Guptipara is the birthplace of folk singer Bhola Moira,^[7] and of Diwan Mohanlal, the Commander in Chief of King Siraj ud-Daulah.^[7]

The temple complex at Guptipara houses four Vaishnava Temples: Chaitanya, Brindabanchandra, Ramchandra and Krishnachandra. The Ramchandra Temples contain many terracotta works,^[3] and the structures bear characteristics of the Bengal school of architecture, with carvings depicting scenes from the epics and Puranas.^[3]

Guptipara was a citadel of Vaishnavite culture. Even today, residents observe Ras, Dol and Ratha-Yatra, which is Guptipara’s greatest festival. The Guptipara ratha ({{lang-en|ceremonial chariot}}), one of the tallest and oldest rathas in West Bengal, is said to cover the second-longest distance in India after that of Puri. On the day before the Ultorath (the homecoming of Lord Bridabanchandra), a festival known as "Bhandarloot" is held in Guptipara. Many people across Eastern India come gather there to pull the ropes of the ratha.

Guptipara is the home of the first branded Bengali "Gupo sandesh," a special kind of sweetmeat.^[3]

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census of India, the population was 2,169, of which 1,090 (50%) were males and 1,079 (50%) were females. 192 of the population was below age 6. The literacy rate was 83.92% of the population over age 6.^[8]

Transport

Guptipara can be reached from Kolkata or Howrah on the suburban train service. Local trains from Howrah, Katwa and Bandel, Katwa stop at Guptipara Railway station. Train service is also available from Sealdah. Guptipara is {{convert|74|km|abbr=on}} from Howrah and {{convert|35|km|abbr=on}} from Bandel on the Bandel–Katwa Branch Line.^[9]

Guptipara is connected by roadways, including the Assam (S.T.K.K.) Road.

Buses are available from district headquarters Chinsurah (Kanla-Chinsurah 8 No.), Kalna (Kanla–Chinsurah 8 No.), Burdwan (Guptipara–Burdwan) and Tarakeswar (Guptipara–Tarakeswar).

Ferry service to Guptipara is available from Shantipur and Tarapur.

Autorickshaw services are available from Jirat (Jirat–Guptipara) and from Kalna (Kalna–Guptipara).

Sports

The two main sports clubs are over one-hundred and twenty years old: The Gupitara Football Club and the Gupitara Premier League. The Guptipara Football Club, Aida Milani Sangha, and the Guptipara Cricket Association arrange regular tournaments. The Guptipara Premier League in cricket received some fame and came into the spotlight of Bengal Media. These clubs organize football tournaments at Guptipara.

Administration

Guptipara is divided into three administrative parts, or gram panchayats. Guptipara I covers areas like Guptipara Station Road, Satgachia, Bandhagachi, Pathmahal, Mirdanga, Tengripara, and Saradanagar villages. Guptipara II covers the largest area with Manasatala, Pathakpukur, Beldanga, Kumorpara, Chutorpara, Baburdanga, Aryanagar, Rathsadak, Jamtala, Behula, Ghoshpara, Sondolpur, Rampur, Aida, and Baire, as well as many other small villages. Guptipara III covers Fultala, Char-Krishnabati, Benali, Shaktipur etc.

Guptipara is under The Hooghly Lok Sabha and Balagarh Vidhan Sabha.

Heads of Administration

• M.P.: Ratna De (Nag)
• MLA: Asim Majhi
• Zilla Parishad: Paritosh Ghosh
• Pradhan Guptipara -I: Padma Roy
• Pradhan Guptipara -II: Sonali Ghosh
• Pradhan Guptipara -III: Sanjib Mahato

Education

Higher Secondary schools

• Guptipara High School ({{abbr|est.|established}} 1890, Near Guptipara police outpost, Bhattacharya Para. Co-ed) ^[10]
• Guptipara Girls High School (est. 1950, Hugli. Co-ed) ^[11]

Secondary schools

• Satyabrata Balika Vidyalaya (Girls Only)^[12]
• Krishna Bati Char High School (Co-Ed)^[13]
• Satgachia High School (Co-Ed)^[14]
• Natagarh High School (Co-Ed)^[15]
• Sultanpur Alia Sr. Madarasah School (Co-Ed)^[16]
• Satgachia Balika Vidyalaya (Girls only)

Colleges

Mission

1. Hindu Mission Boys Welfare Home

Festivals and culture

Guptiparans celebrate several events: Ratha Yatra, Jagadhatri Puja, Durga Puja, Dol Yatra, Jhapan, Kali Puja and many local festivals, including Guptipara Rathayatra.

Ratha-Yatra

Ratha Yatra is the main attraction. At approximately 2 km, the Guptipara Ratha covers the second largest distance in India.^[17] It starts from the temple complex in Lord Brindaban Chandra Temple and stretches to Gopal Temple at Burrabazar, Guptipara. Approximately one million people gather there to celebrate the Ratha Yatra.

Jagaddhatri Puja

Barowari committees and houses organize Jagadhatri Puja. The main attraction is a firecracker competition and procession that takes place on the last evening of the Puja.

Durga Puja

Like other areas of Bengal, Guptipara hosts Durga Puja. Puja from the Sen's house is one of the oldest traditions in Bengal. The famous clubs who organize Durga Puja are United Club, Saradanagar New Young Star, Bandhagachi Barowari, Azad hind Club, SMIT, Jagarani Sangha, Durga Mandir, Nirbhik Sangha, Daspara Barowari, Bhumijpara Barowari, Swaralipi Club, Evergreen, Aryanagar Barowari, and Sasthitala Barowari. At least 100 small and big pujas have been organized here.

Kali Puja

The main attractions are Desh Kali Puja & Mashal Kali Puja (Deceits Kali). Flares are often used in the procession of Mashal Kali Puja.

Food

Signature dishes include:

• Famous Pitai Porota
• Singara (Samosa)
• Famous Nalen Gurer Sandesh
• Kachuri
• gupo sondes

References

Notes

External links

• Abhimunya Classes for Competitive Exams
• Travel Article on Guptipara
• Guptipara Ratha Yatra Photos

• The Simulation (Born of Osiris album)
• The Simulation (disambiguation)
• The Sin and Doom, Vol. II
• The Sin and the Sentence
• The Sinatra Doctrine
• The Sincere Huron
• The Sinclair method
• The Sinclair Method
• The Sinclair's Mysteries
• The Sin (disambiguation)
• The Sin-Eater
• The Sin Eater's Daughter
• The Sin Eater’s Daughter
• The Sin Eater’s Daughter (novel series)
• The Sin (film)
• The Sin Flood
• The Sin Flood (1922 film)
• The Sinful Border
• The Sinful Woman
• The Sing-A-Long Family
• The Singapore Mutiny
• The Singer (Barbra Streisand album)
• The Singer Has Become a Deejay
• The Singer (John Paul Young album)
• The Singing Cave (Beames)